The five pillars of Swedish healthcare excellence

THE FIVE PILLARS OF

SWEDISH HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE

1. PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY

Preventative measures and a healthier population.

STANDARDISED CARE PROCESSES FOR CANCER

A national strategy to improve cancer care is currently being implemented in Sweden. The aim is to provide a more equal and accessible healthcare with a focus on shortening waiting times and reducing regional differences. A corner stone in the strategy is standardised care processes. It means that all patients go through the same treatment steps no matter where in Sweden they receive care.

In Skåne we have particularly good results for breast cancer care through standardised care processes, shortening time from suspicion of cancer to diagnosis.

Each patient is assigned a dedicated coordinating nurse for the whole treatment period. The hospital has specific, reserved appointment slots with specialists and at the radiology department for direct booking so that no new referrals are necessary.

Emergency ward, Skåne University Hospital

LOW INFECTION RATES

Swedish hospitals are known for their cleanliness and rigorous routines for infection control. In 2010, one of the most modern facilities for emergency, trauma, and infection was completed at Skåne University Hospital, one of the largest and busiest trauma and emergency facilities in Sweden. It was designed in close consultation with medical experts and uniquely planned from an infection control perspective. The modern architecture and ventilation technology help reduce the risk of infection so severe infection cases can be addressed without the infection spreading to staff or other patients.

In combination with restrictive prescription of antibiotics, the priority given to infection control measures in Swedish healthcare means that Sweden has some of the lowest prevalence of MRSA in the world. In other words, patients run a much lower risk of contracting multi-resistant bacteria in Swedish hospitals than anywhere else.

2. COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION CLIMATE

Sweden is ranked as #1 EU innovation leader (European Innovation Scoreboard 2016). The Triple Helix model is widespread with close collaboration between academia, industry and the public sector.

3. MORE THAN 100 NATIONAL QUALITY REGISTRIES

National Quality Registries are used in an integrated and active way for continuous learning, improvement, research and management to create the best possible healthcare.

4. COMPREHENSIVE PRIMARY CARE

The foundation of the Swedish healthcare system and the patient’s first point of entry, ensuring that patients get the right care at the right level. Primary healthcare services are publicly funded but delivered by a mix of public and private providers in a Public Private Partnership model.

5. WORLD-RENOWNED TOP LEVEL EXPERTISE

WORLD LEADERS IN CARDIAC CARE

Skåne University Hospital provides world-class results in all aspects of cardiac surgery:

Our centre for paediatric heart surgery is the largest in Scandinavia and one of two centres in Sweden. Around 350 heart surgical procedures are performed annually with top international results.

“We are very proud of our top results within cardiothoracic surgery, which are among the best in the world. We continuously strive for excellency and it feels fantastic to know that we give the best possible care to our patients in an international context; for some procedures we have a higher survival rate than the most renowned clinic in the US.”

DR PER OLA KIMBLAD, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY, SKÅNE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Skåne University Hospital performs over 3,000 examinations of the coronary arteries and 2,000 balloon angioplasties annually, and it is the first hospital in Sweden to be able to perform remote magnetic catheter navigation in arrhythmia ablation, so called stereotaxis.

CURING THE INCURABLE WITH HAPLOIDENTICAL STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION

At the Department of Paediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology at Skåne University Hospital 60 haploidentical transplants have been performed since 2005. This is a potentially life-saving treatment when conventional transplants have failed or are not available.

“Skåne University Hospital has over ten years of experience in performing haploidentical stem cell transplantation. We are recognised world-wide for our expertise and regularly receive international patients and international medical staff for training or study visits.”

DR JACEK TOPORSKI, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF PAEDIATRIC MEDICINE, SKÅNE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL